Apparatus and method for depositing and curing flowable material

Abstract

An apparatus for depositing and curing a curable material on a substrate comprising a deposition means configured to deposit the curable material on the substrate along a deposition path, and a light source configured to direct a beam of light on the deposited curable material to thereby at least partially cure the curable material and thereby prevent it from substantially deforming in shape.

1 . An apparatus for depositing and curing a curable material on a substrate comprising:
 deposition means configured to deposit the curable material on the substrate along a deposition path; and   a light source configured to direct a beam of light on the deposited curable material to thereby at least partially cure the curable material and thereby prevent it from substantially deforming in shape,   wherein said light source is capable of rotating at least partially around said deposition means as it travels along said deposition path.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said curing occurs no more than 500 ms after said deposition of the curable material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said curing occurs no more than 300 ms after said deposition of the curable material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said curing occurs from about 100 ms to about 200 ms after said deposition of the curable material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said deposition means is an electrically actuated extruder. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said light source is capable of moving in at least two axial directions. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said light source is capable of moving in four axial directions. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said light source is an ultraviolet light emitting source. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said substrate is a group IIIA metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said substrate is aluminum or aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         12 . A method for depositing and curing a curable material on a substrate comprising the steps of:
 depositing the curable material on the substrate along a deposition path from a deposition means;   directing a beam of light from a light source on the deposited curable material to thereby at least partially cure the curable material and thereby prevent it from substantially deforming in shape; and   at least partially rotating said light source around said deposition means as it travels along said deposition path.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said directing step occurs no more than 500 ms after said depositing step. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said directing step occurs no more than 300 ms after said depositing step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said directing step occurs from about 100 ms to about 200 ms after said depositing step. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said depositing step is carried out by an electrically actuated extruder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said beam of light is ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said substrate is a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said substrate is a group IIIA metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said substrate is aluminum or aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)